Bulldogs finish regular season with 10-1-1 record

The General Amherst Bulldogs boys hockey team finished the 2015-16 regular season with a 10-1-1 record after winning last Thursday.

The Bulldogs faced off with the St. Thomas of Villanova Wildcats last Thursday afternoon at the Vollmer Centre in LaSalle and skated away with a 5-1 victory in their final regular season game. Reid Stieler and Kyle Meloche scored in the second period for the Bulldogs with Justin Veldhuis scoring twice in the third period with Jack Hubbell scoring the fifth goal.

John Purdie scored with just under one minute to go for the Wildcats.

General Amherst head coach Pat Garrett said that anytime they are able to pull out a victory against a larger school like Villanova, it is important.

“That’s a big win for us,” said Garrett.

General Amherst’s Kyle Meloche tries to dodge two Villanova defenders during third period action last Thursday at the Vollmer Centre in LaSalle. Amherst won the hockey game 5-1.

Garrett believes the 10-1-1 record is the best record he has had during his time coaching the Amherst boys program.

“These guys have done a good job all year. I’m excited for the playoffs,” he said.

The Bulldogs were shorthanded for the first 1:45 of the third period, but Garrett was pleased they were able to kill the penalty then score the insurance goals.

Despite being pleased with a successful regular season, Garrett acknowledged they have to keep the momentum going in the playoffs.

Goalie Jack Langlois said Thursday’s game wasn’t “super crucial for us” but said it is nice to get a win over the Wildcats. Many of the players on the Bulldogs have friends on the Wildcats so it was nice to have some bragging rights, he said.

Hubbell said they had trouble scoring initially but once the goals came, “we got them in bunches.” He added that while they lost the first game of the regular season, they haven’t lost since.

“It’s a good way to go into the playoffs,” said Hubbell.

Teams have to watch for the Bulldogs come playoff time, Hubbell predicted, with Langlois adding he believes they will be up to the challenge.